Africa

Because lions only inhabit certain limited parts of Africa, which is a very large continent with varied geology, they cannot accurately be said to dominate wildlife on that continent, though they are apex predators who tend to be at or near the top of their ecosystem's food chain. And while lions are skilled hunters and fierce predators, some other predators, such as hyenas, have been known to outcompete and even dominate lions.

A:The Canary Islands are comprised of seven islands: El Hierro, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, La Gomera, Lanzarote, La Palma and Tenerife. Situated in the Atlantic Ocean off the northwestern coast of Africa, the Canary Islands are a Spanish archipelago and one of Spain's 17 autonomous communities. The Canary Islands are among the European Union's outermost regions.

A:There are some edible plants, seeds and fruits that can be foraged from most desert climates, including fruits that grow on cacti. However, many of these foods, including stinging nettle and prickly pear, have sharp stings, hairs or spikes and need to be cooked before they are safe to eat.

A:The Niger is an important river in Africa because it is the principal river in Western Africa and provides an invaluable water source in the Sahara Desert. It’s two fertile deltas provide critical water sources and wetlands to an otherwise very dry region.

A:People in Cameroon speak 280 different languages. The country's two national languages are English and French. English speakers live mainly in the southwest and northwest regions; in the rest of the country, French is dominant.

A:South Africa is famous for its former president, Nelson Mandela, Kruger National Park and a variety of gem stones and minerals. Approximately 50 percent of the world's gold reserves are located in South Africa. The country is also the third largest exporter of coal in the world, in addition to being one of the world's leading producers of diamonds. This includes the rare 25.5 carat blue diamond discovered in 2014.

A:As of 2014, the main animals being poached in Africa are rhinoceros and elephants. Other animals being poached in lesser amounts include lions, leopards, baboons, elands, impala, bushbuck, reedbuck, kudus and warthogs.

A:A 2012 end-of-year census estimated the population of Madagascar at just more than 22 million. This makes the country the 54th most populated country in the world. The largest city is its capital, Antananarivo, with more than 1.8 million residents.

A:Nelson Mandela was a good leader because he sought reconciliation with his political enemies rather than retaliation against them. This forgiving approach helped his country, South Africa, to heal from the wound of apartheid.

A:The Sahara Desert covers large parts of the African countries of Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Western Sahara, Sudan and Tunisia. The desert has an area of over 3.6 million square miles, covering around one-quarter of the continent of Africa.

A:Dallol, Ethiopia, in Africa has the highest-recorded average temperature in the world at 94 degrees Fahrenheit. As of 2014, Dallol, Ethiopia, is uninhabited. In the 1960s, Dallol had a salt-mining settlement.

A:A known 157 active volcanoes exist in Africa. The vast majority of these volcanoes sit on the continent's east coast, including the 59 active volcanoes found in Ethiopia. The volcanoes exist because of a splitting between the African Plate and the Arabian Plate, which is actually pulling the continent apart.

A:The Nile River flows north because north is downhill for the topography of the region where the Nile is located. Contrary to popular belief, there is no pull within the earth that causes rivers to flow south. Also contrary to popular belief, cardinal directions are only terms of orientation. They do not indicate topography or elevation.

A:Kampala is the capital of Uganda, which is the only landlocked African nation that borders Lake Victoria. South Sudan borders Uganda to the north. Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo border Uganda to the east and west, respectively. Uganda's southern borders are with Tanzania and Rwanda.

A:South Africa was colonized by two different powers, the Dutch and the English. The Dutch East India Company established the first colony in 1652. The British took over the colony in 1795, returned it during the Peace of Amiens in 1802, and then re-occupied it in 1809.